The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Netherlands has demanded a 36-month prison sentence for a 32-year-old man from Meppel. He is suspected, among other things, of causing an explosion in his home on October 19, 2024. The blast was so powerful that the rear facade of the terraced house was blown out. The front facade and roof were also severely damaged. Due to the explosion, adjacent houses were temporarily uninhabitable and neighbors had to be accommodated elsewhere. The damage amounts to hundreds of thousands of euros.
According to the public prosecutor, the explosion occurred while manufacturing cannabis oil in the living room. The suspect used a gas burner, a PVC pipe, and butane gas. He was almost finished when the bowl he used to collect the oil fell. A flash and a blue sea of fire followed. Fires broke out throughout the house, the front door was gone, and the rear facade was blown out. The suspect admitted all this and suffered burns.
Life-threatening
Investigation shows that a combination of gas and open flame caused the explosion. According to the public prosecutor, this created a life-threatening situation where other people could have been seriously injured or worse. The suspect is held accountable for this. He held a highly flammable gas near an open flame in a poorly ventilated room in a terraced house.
Drugs (trafficking) and firearms
One day after the explosion, a firearm, ammunition, pepper spray, and a stun gun were also found in the suspects home. Later, drugs including cocaine, amphetamine, GHB, and MDMA were discovered. Considering the quantities of drugs, scales found, witness statements, and phone data, the public prosecutor concluded that the suspect was also involved in drug trafficking.
Risk
Although the suspect initially claimed he did everything “for fun,” the criminal investigation shows he was involved in drug trafficking. Research by the probation service also shows the suspect has a drug problem himself, which means the risks of committing new offenses remain.
Impact
The impact of the explosion has been enormous. Nearly new (rental) homes were heavily damaged, causing some residents to still be unable to return to their homes. This has led to feelings of fear, insecurity, and stress among neighborhood residents.
The court in Assen will give its verdict in two weeks.
